The victory is ETBU’s first since a win over Sul Ross State back on Dec. 8 and snaps a two-game losing streak. The Tigers (4-6 overall, 4-3 conference) last played a game on Dec. 15 and suffered a disappointing 85-71 loss at home to cross-town rival Wiley College that day to enter the holiday break.
The Crusaders (6-4, 5-2) entered the game in first place in the ASC West Division. UMHB was the preseason favorite to win the West and was allowing just 57.2 points per game to lead the conference.
But the Tigers dominated the game from the outset, racing to a 35-24 lead with just over four minutes remaining before halftime. ETBU built the advantage to 17, 45-28, by halftime and coasted to the win in the second half.
ETBU shot a blistering 54.4 percent from the floor, including 57.6 in the second half, and hit a season-high 11 3-pointers. In all, the Tigers hit 11-of-20 from beyond the arc.
Senior point guard Cedric Isom keyed the Tiger onslaught, scoring a game-high 27 points with 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Melvin Allen pumped in 17 points, including three 3-pointers, with Chris Isom scoring 16 with 9 rebounds.
Rodney Calhoun added 13 points as well.
ETBU also out-rebounded the Crusaders, 41-33.
Brandon Gatlin led UMHB with 16 points.
Newspaper Box Score East TX Baptist vs Mary Hardin-Baylor 01/05/06 7:30 PM at Belton, TX (Mayborn Campus Center) At Belton, TX (Mayborn Campus Center) EAST TX BAPTIST 98, MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR 67 EAST TX BAPTIST (4-6, 4-3 ASC) Cedric Isom 11-18 2-3 27; Melvin Allen 5-10 4-6 17; Chris Isom 7-12 2-2 16; Rodney Calhoun 4-8 3-3 13; Michael Keys 4-4 0-0 9; Carlos Marbot 3-6 0-0 8; Cory Cooper 2-6 2-2 6; Brandon Palmer 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 37-68 13-16 98. MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR (6-4, 5-2 ASC) Brandon Gatlin 7-18 0-0 16; Jimmy Carter 7-10 0-0 14; Kevin Guyden 3-7 2-2 9; Jeremy Russell 3-7 2-3 8; Chris Poole 2-4 2-2 6; Connor Kuykendall 2-7 0-0 5; Carter Tynes 2-2 0-0 4; Tim Lytle 1-6 0-0 3; Daniel Gipson 0-2 2-2 2; Patrick Oliver 0-2 0-0 0; Ryan Burgart 0-1 0-0 0; Ben Camillo 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-67 8-11 67. East TX Baptist 45 53 98 Mary Hardin-Baylor 28 39 67 3-point goals-East TX Baptist 11-20 (Melvin Allen 3-4; Cedric Isom 3-3; Rodney Calhoun 2-5; Carlos Marbot 2-5; Michael Keys 1-1; Brandon Palmer 0-1; Chris Isom 0-1), Mary Hardin-Baylor 5-24 (Brandon Gatlin 2-6; Kevin Guyden 1-3; Connor Kuykendall 1-5; Tim Lytle 1-5; Jeremy Russell 0-4; Jimmy Carter 0-1). Fouled out--East TX Baptist-None, Mary Hardin-Baylor-None. Rebounds-East TX Baptist 41 (Chris Isom 9), Mary Hardin-Baylor 33 (Patrick Oliver 5). Assists-East TX Baptist 20 (Cedric Isom 8), Mary Hardin-Baylor 13 (Brandon Gatlin 6). Total fouls-East TX Baptist 13, Mary Hardin-Baylor 16. A-375